Description
Language is a system of communication with an extraordinarily intricate structure. The scientific study of the mental representations and biological basis of language involves many questions, including what the nature of this system is, how humans master it so early in their cognitive development, how humans use it to communicate, and how it is implemented in human biology.
 
The Language Science major offers focuses in theoretical, behavioral, computational, and applied approaches to language science. Students completing the B.A. in Language Science will have a background in

1. theoretical linguistics,
2. language development & use,
3. advanced aspects of natural or formal languages,
4. the analytical tools of formal language study, and
5. some combination of neuroscience, psychology, logic, computer science, anthropology, education, and hearing & speech, as related to the scientific study of language and its applications.

This leads to an interdisciplinary language science background that is attractive for a variety of careers, including teaching, language technology industry positions, teaching English as a second language abroad, interpreting & translation, technical writing, language consulting for legal firms and medical practices, and advertising, among others. In addition, the strong foundation in formal and applied language science will better prepare graduates in the major for graduate and professional programs in any of the areas related to language science, including speech-language pathology, linguistics, cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, natural language processing, and education.

1. Knowledge of the discipline of language science:
The student demonstrates knowledge of the interdisciplinary foundation to the scientific study of language, including its mental representations, its development and use, and its biological underpinnings. The student demonstrates knowledge of the tools used in the development of the empirical foundations of the field (theoretical, behavioral and neuroscientific, computational), as well knowledge of how these empirical foundations can inform applied science (i.e., applied language science).
2. Research and analytical skills:
The student demonstrates knowledge of the process of hypothesis testing in science, especially as they relate to human language. The student demonstrates the ability to acquire and critically evaluate domain-relevant information, and to apply that information to scientific research questions. The student demonstrates knowledge of the research methods used by language scientists, including theoretical, behavioral and neuroscientific, and computational methods.
3. Communication skills:
The student demonstrates the ability to write clearly, structuring an argument and supporting it with relevant facts, observations, and claims. The student demonstrates the ability to communicate orally in a clear and coherent manner, designing effective presentation aids where appropriate. The student demonstrates the ability to succinctly summarize research findings, both in writing and orally.